Golf putter head

ABSTRACT

The putter head includes a putter head member formed of a first material having a given weight per unit volume. The putter head member has an outer side wall which includes a top portion, a bottom portion and first and rear second ends with an axis extending between the first and second ends. An aperture is formed into the putter head member between its first and second ends parallel with the axis and located closer to the bottom portion than to the top portion. A rod is located in the aperture. The rod is formed of a second material having a weight per unit volume greater than that of the first material. An aperture is formed in the top portion along a plane parallel with the axis for attachment of a shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a putter head for use in the game of golf.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Different types of putter heads have been used in the game of golf, however, the conventional putters have not always between satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide an internally balanced putter head.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a putter head with alignment means on the outside surface of the putter head.

[0007] In the embodiment disclosed the putter head comprises a putter head member formed of a first material. The putter head member has an outer side wall comprising a top portion, a bottom portion and first and second ends with an axis extending between the first and second ends. An aperture is formed into the putter head member between its first and second ends parallel with the axis and located closer to the bottom portion than to the top portion. A rod is located in the aperture. The rod is formed of a second material having a weight per unit volume greater than that of the first material. Means is located at the top portion along a plane parallel with the axis for attachment of a shaft.

[0008] In a further aspect, indicia is formed on the outer side wall of the putter head member at the top portion thereof on opposite sides of the plane and at the same distance from the plane for alignment purposes in use in using the golf putter head.

[0009] In another aspect, grooves are formed in the side wall at the two ends of the head member in a plane transverse to the axis.

[0010] The putter head member has a curved surface between its two ends for striking a golf ball on either side of the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a side view of the putter head of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an end view of the putter head.

[0013]FIG. 3A indicates the putter head aligned properly with three dots on each side for correct positioning.

[0014]FIGS. 3C and 3D indicate that the putter head is not aligned properly.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view of the putter head showing it with angled flats at the bottom of its two ends.

[0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the putter head.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross section of FIG. 3A as seen along lines 6-6 thereof with the shaft attachment removed.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a view of the putter head showing how the round putter surface causes top spin to make the golf ball roll forward.

[0019]FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional style putter that scoots the golf ball or makes the golf ball hop upon contact.

[0020]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a putter head of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a top view of the head of FIG. 9.

[0022]FIG. 11 is an end view of the head of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, the putter head of the invention is identified by reference numeral 21. It comprises a putter head member 23 having a shaft 25A and 25B connected thereto. The member 23 comprises an outer cylindrical surface 27 having a first end 29, a second end 31, a top portion 33, and a bottom portion 35 with flat angled surfaces 37 and 39 formed in the bottom portion 35 from the ends 29 and 31. The axis of the cylindrical surface is identified at 41.

[0024] The member 23 has round cavities 51 and 53 formed into ends 29 and 31 defined by annular rims or walls 51R and 53R and which extend to round interior walls 55 and 57 respectively. A cylindrical aperture 63 is formed through the member 23 between walls 55 and 57 below the axis 41 and thus closer to the bottom portion 35 than to the upper portion 31. A solid cylindrical rod 71 is located in the aperture 63. Cylindrical end caps 81, 83 and 85, 87 are located in the cavities 51 an 53 respectively and glued in place. Cap members 83 and 87 are thicker than end caps 81 and 85 respectively. An apertures 91 is formed into the top portion 33 at an angle Ø which is equal to about 74 degrees. A shaft insert 25A is secured into the aperture 91 and a shaft member 25B is attached to the upper end of the insert 25A by threads. Alignment indentations or dimples 101 and 103 are formed in the top surface portion 33 on opposite sides of a plane 105 and at the same distance D1 from the plane 105. Also annular alignment grooves 111 and 113 are formed in the ends 29 and 31 of the member 23 in planes perpendicular to the axis 41.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment, the member 23 is formed of aluminum and the rod 71 is formed of brass such that with the shaft or handle 25A, 25B removed, the member 21 will always rotate to the position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A when placed on a level surface and hence is internally balanced. The cap members 83 and 87 also are formed of brass and the end caps 81 and 85 are formed of aluminum.

[0026] In using the device as a putter, the indentations or indicia 101 and 103 and the grooves 111 and 113 are used as alignment means. For example, referring to FIG. 3A, when the user grasps the shaft 23B and holds the putter 21 in a position such that the indentations 101 and 103 are seen as being equal distance from the shaft 25A, 25B, the user knows that the putter is aligned properly such that he may swing the putter 21 using the handle 25A, 25B to strike the golf ball 121 with the cylindrical side wall 27A or 27B (depending on whether the user is left or right handed) to cause the putter head to apply top spin to the ball and cause it to roll forward. The heavier density rod 71 also aids in the alignment and hitting process of the putter 21. In addition, the grooves 111 and 113 aid in the alignment process to help the user move the hitting surface 27A or 27B straight to the ball.

[0027] It is to be understood that the head member 23 and the rod 71 may be formed of material other than aluminum and brass, however, the material used for the rod 71 will have a weight per unit volume greater than that of the material of the head member 23 and preferably will be similar to that of brass and aluminum.

[0028] In one embodiment the putter head 23 has an outside diameter of 1¼ inches and a length of 3¾ inches. The rod 71 has a diameter of {fraction (3/8)} of an inch and a length of 2⅞. The diameter each of the end caps 81, 83, 85, 87 is 1 inch. The thickness of each of the end caps 81 and 85 is {fraction (1/8)} of an inch and the thickness of each the end caps 83 and 87 is {fraction (5/16)} of an inch. It is to be understood that these dimensions may vary.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 9-11 of the drawings, the putter head is identified by reference numeral 121. It comprises a putter head member 123 having outer curved side walls 127A and 127B with a first end 129, a second end 131, a top portion 133, and a bottom portion 135 with flat angled surfaces 137 and 139 formed in the bottom portion 135 from the ends 129 and 131. The axis of the member 123 is identified at 141.

[0030] The member 123 has round cavities 151 and 153 formed into ends 129 and 131 which extend to round interior walls 155 and 157 respectively. A cylindrical aperture 163 is formed through the member 123 between walls 155 and 157 below the axis 141 and thus closer to the bottom portion 135 than to the upper portion 131. A solid cylindrical rod 171 is located in the aperture 163. A pair of cylindrical end caps 181 and 183 are located and glued in the cavities 151 and 153 respectively with each member 183 being located inward of a member 181 and glued in place. Cap members 183 are thicker than end caps 181. An aperture 191 is formed into the top portion 133 at an angle Ø which is equal to about 74 degrees. A shaft insert similar to insert 25A is secured into the aperture 191 and a shaft member 25B is attached to the upper end of the insert 25A by threads. Alignment indentations or dimples similar to dimples 101 and 103 may be formed in the top surface portion 133 on opposite sides of a plane 205 and at the same distance from the plane 205. Also annular alignment grooves similar to grooves 111 and 113 may be formed in the ends 129 and 131 of the member 123 in planes perpendicular to the axis 141.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the member 123 is formed of aluminum and the rod 171 is formed of brass such that with the shaft or handle 25A, 25B removed, the member 21 will always rotate to the position as shown in FIGS. 9-11 when placed on a level surface and hence is internally balanced. The cap members 183 also are formed of brass and the end caps 181 are formed of aluminum.

[0032] D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, and D12 may have the following dimensions in inches; 3¾, 1⅛, ½, ⅜, 1{fraction (3/16)}, {fraction (11/16)}, {fraction (11/16)}, {fraction (15/16)}, ½, ½, ¼. Each of the end caps 181 has a thickness of {fraction (1/8)} of an inch and each of the cap members has a thickness of {fraction (9/16)} of an inch. The rod 171 has a diameter of about {fraction (3/8)} of an inch and a length of about 2⅜ inch. The radius of each of curved surfaces 127A and 127B may be 0.875 of an inch. It is to be understood that these dimensions may vary. 

1. A golf putter head, comprising: a putter head member formed of a first material having a given weight per unit volume, said putter head member having an outer side wall comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and first and second ends, with an axis extending between said first and second ends, an aperture formed into said putter head member between said first and second ends parallel with said axis and located closer to said bottom portion than to said top portion and, a rod located in said aperture, said rod being formed of a second material having a weight per unit volume greater than the weight per unit volume of said material of said putter head, and means located at said top portion along a plane parallel with said axis for attachment of a shaft.
 2. The putter head of claim 1, comprising; indicia formed on said outer side wall of said putter head member at said top portion on opposite sides of said plane and at the same distance from said plane for alignment purposes in using said golf putter head.
 3. The putter head of claim 2, comprising: first and second grooves formed in said outer side wall at said first and second ends respectively in planes transverse to said axis.
 4. The putter head of claim 1, wherein: said first material is aluminum, said second material is brass.
 5. The putter head of claim 2, wherein: said first material is aluminum, said second material is brass.
 6. The putter head of claim 3, wherein: said first material is aluminum, said second material is brass.
 7. The putter head of claim 1, comprising: indicia formed on said outer side wall of said putter head member at said top portion on opposite sides of said plane and at the same distance from said plane for alignment purposes in using said golf putter head, first and second grooves formed in said outer wall at said first and second ends respectively in planes transverse to said axis.
 8. The putter head of claim 7, wherein: said first and second ends each comprises first and second round end caps with said first end caps being located outside of said second end caps respectively.
 9. The putter head of claim 7, wherein: said first material is aluminum, said second material is brass.
 10. The putter head of claim 9, wherein: said first end caps are formed of aluminum and said second end caps are formed of brass.
 11. The putter head of claim 7, wherein: said putter head member comprises an outer curved surface between said first and second ends for striking a golf ball on either side of said shaft. 